ULB - FNRS - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" The "Data against Corona task force" aim is to analyze data on the spread of the virus, making use of telecom- and epidemiological data. Based on this information the task force's goal is to: Take action in containing the rising number of infections, leveling the peak amount, and thus limiting the number of patients in hospital at the same time; Take measures to lower the infection curve; Provide a detailed assessment of the measures taken to contain the contagion. The role of the Ethics committee is to review the output of the "Data Against Corona" taskforce and to provide an ethical advice to the Steering Committee. The committee will highlight potential ethical conflicts arising from decisions taken based on the collection and analysis of the telecom and health data, such as : - Is the collection of information aligned with the concept of data protection ? - Are there potential & actual biases in the...

Read more: Jean-Noël Missa, Professor, FNRS Research Director

UCLouvain - FNRS
" In collaboration with the University of Rwanda, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines will be measured in the plasma of COVID-19 patients and their level will be correlated with the severity of the disease. "
Funding: ARES-CCD
Publication References: Ndoricyimpaye EL, Tuyishimire J, Vanwambeke S, Mutesa L, Nyandwi E, Rujeni N, Coutelier J-P. L'épidémie de SARS-CoV-2 en Afrique sub-Saharienne, questions, craintes et espoirs. Louvain Médical, submitted.
Contact: Prof. J.-P. Coutelier de Duve Institute Universite Catholique de Louvain SSS/DDUV - ICP Av. Hippocrate 75, bte B1.74.05 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgique tel 32 2 764 7437 fax 32 2 764 7430 e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UCLouvain - FNRS
" In collaboration with the Central University of Ecuador, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines will be measured in the plasma of COVID-19 patients and immunology pathways markers will be analysed by PCR. These results will be correlated with the severity of the disease. "
Funding: Requested to FNRS
Contact: Prof. J.-P. Coutelier de Duve Institute Universite Catholique de Louvain SSS/DDUV - ICP Av. Hippocrate 75, bte B1.74.05 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Belgique tel 32 2 764 7437 fax 32 2 764 7430 e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: This project is pending

UCLouvain - FNRS
" A project developed by the Université d'Etat de Haïti will be supported. Its aim will be to test the possibility that the Moringa local plant may help to dicrease severity to disease through decrease of viral replication or enhancement of patient resistance. "
Funding: ARES-CCD
Contact: Prof. J.-P. Coutelier de Duve Institute Universite Catholique de Louvain SSS/DDUV - ICP Av. Hippocrate 75, bte B1.74.05 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Belgique tel 32 2 764 7437 fax 32 2 764 7430 e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: The project is developed by the Université d'Etat de Haïti, and is supported through an Institutional Support programme of ARES-CCD by looking at possible collaborations to perform it.

UCLouvain - FNRS
" Through partnerships with Universities in South countries, information on available techniques and support to local trainings obtained from several national and international colleagues and platforms will be made available to health services in these institutions. "
Contact: Prof. J.-P. Coutelier de Duve Institute Universite Catholique de Louvain SSS/DDUV - ICP Av. Hippocrate 75, bte B1.74.05 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Belgique tel 32 2 764 7437 fax 32 2 764 7430 e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: Support will be provided at the request of health services from South countries and differs therefore from one country to another. Funding is provided by ARES-CCD

Aesculape CRO Belgium BV
" Treatment of COVID 19 complications with antibodies "
Funding: partly public partly private
Contact : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0492 735931

FNRS, UNamur, Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" Modelling the Covid-19 with a view to showing the importance of contact habits for the choice of an appropriate lockdown exit strategy. "
Funding: Own funding
Publication References: "Because Culture Matters, There is No One-Size-Fits-All Strategy of Exit from Cov-19 Lockdown", VoxEU article, London.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: Main paper about to be submitted.

UMONS
" The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency of international concern. Authorities and population are facing a global health crisis which pose a challenge to adapt quickly and effectively. The aim of this preliminary study was to survey the general public in Belgium to better understand their levels of psychological impact, anxiety and stress during the initial stage of containment. The data also explored tips and tricks immediately adopt by the population to manage containment. From 20 March to 28 March 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques on social network. The online survey collected information on demographic data, stress level in the past 7 days, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19 and the impact of using technologies for taking information and stay connected to others, precautionary measures (tips and tricks) during the beginning of containment, and additional information required with respect to...

Read more: Jennifer Denis, PhD in psychology research and teaching associate

Chemical Engineering ULiège & CRM Group - FNRS
" The Chemical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University of Liège has been producing protective visors by 3D printing since April 4 and provides various hospital services (CHU, Citadelle, Bois de l'Abbaye), rest homes, associations and health care practices. A team of members of the Department has been set up to ensure 24-hour production, which means that up to 90 visors can now be produced per day depending on demand. As the days go by, production optimization continues to lighten components, produce faster and reduce the amount of raw material needed. The Department also receives visor supports produced by 3D printing by people from the Metallurgical Research Centre (CRM), a privileged partner of the Faculty, in order to equip them with plastic sheets to produce visors. This equipment is then distributed with the rest of the production from Chemical Engineering. The milestone of 1000 visors...

Read more: Jérôme Schruyers, Researcher - Alexandre Léonard, Research logistician - Carlos Mendoza, Postdoc -...

UMONS, ULB, Sciensano
" A new type of biosensor to characterize in details antibodies specific for antigens of SARS-COV-2. "
Funding: UMONS
Publication References: E. Gosselin, O Denis, A. Van Cauwenberge, J. Conti, JJ Vanden Eynde, K. Huygen, J. De Coninck, "Quantification of the trichothecene Verrucarin-A in environmental samples using an antibody-based spectroscopic biosensor", Sensor Actuat. B.-Chem., 2012, 166-167, 549-555.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULB, Faculty of Medicine, and Erasme Hospital
Suivi longitudinal de biomarqueurs sériques et urinaires de l'atteinte rénale aiguë associée au COVID-19 : impacts diagnostique et pronostique. " L'objectif principal de cette étude est de caractériser l'atteinte rénale aiguë par le virus SARS-COV2 chez des patients hospitalisés présentant une maladie COVID-19 à l'aide de biomarqueurs sériques et urinaires précoces et spécifiques à certains segments du néphron. L'objectif secondaire est d'établir une corrélation entre l'évolution de ces marqueurs observée durant la phase aiguë de l'insuffisance rénale et le passage éventuel à un stade chronique. "
Funding: Crédit Urgent de Recherche (CUR) sollicité auprès du FNRS
Publication References: BUNEL V, SOUARD F, ANTOINE M-H, STEVIGNY C, NORTIER JL. Nephrotoxicity of Natural Products: Aristolochic Acid and Fungal Toxins. In McQueen C.A., Comprehensive Toxicology, Third Edition. Vol 14, Oxford Elsevier Ltd (2018), pp 340-379. BUNEL V, TOURNAY Y...

Read more: Joëlle Nortier, Dr

ULiège, CHU
" We are facing a COVID-19 infection pandemic. This pathogenic virus is a source of pulmonary complications greatly aggravating the prognosis of our patients. Today, both the pathophysiological mechanisms involved and the predictive markers of the severity of the disease remain unclear. It therefore seems urgent to be able to identify prognostic and diagnostic markers for our patients on the one hand. In this context, several paths that can quickly be explored appear to us to be critical. This is why we are planning the evaluation of the neutrophilic activation pathway by studying the Exosomes and circulating nucleosomes containing neutrophilic activation markers. This tool would make it possible to identify people at risk of clinical deterioration but also to approach the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. "
Funding: Fonds Léon Fredericq
Publication References: 1Danthi P. Viruses and the Diversity of Cell death Annu. Rev. Virol. (2016) 3:533–53 2 Wang Y et al...

Read more: Julien Guiot, MD PhD

Hôpital Erasme - ULB
" Background: In the Covid-19 pandemic context, all healthcare teams face clinical, organizational and technical challenges given the contagion, severity and mortality characteristics of the disease. Methods: A cross-sectional multicentric study (NCT04344145) aiming to compare levels of burnout, emotional distress and needs between frontline Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 healthcare workers has been conducted between April 16th and May 25th. Physicians, nurses and physiotherapists were recruited from emergency care units and Covid-19 care units (target group) and from non-Covid-19 care units (control group) from Erasme Hospital, Jolimont-Lobbes Hospital and Mons-Warquignies Hospital (N = 603). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires and scales. A mixed-mode data collection was carried out, either in paper form or web-based form. Assessment provided socio-demographic characteristics and professional information. It also measured professional fulfillment and...

Read more: Julien Tiete, Dr

EXO Biologics
" EXO Biologics plans to extend its research and development program towards the COVID-19 crisis by using its unique and disruptive technology based on Extracellular Vesicles. These nanometer size particles are gaining momentum in the scientific community as potential alternatives to stem cell and biologic drugs therapies in the fields of immunology, neurology, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology among others. EXO Biologics has 12 years of experience in cell-based regenerative medicine and 8 years of experience in Extracellular Vesicles. Our advancements in research will play an important role for our company mission to provide affordable and accessible therapies to patients with unmet medical needs. "
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DELTRIAN
" Deltrian has developed four complete production lines for surgical masks (production and packaging) which will be operational in Fleurus from the end of May 2020. Deltrian will produce 160 surgical masks per minute following a work divided into two breaks. That is a total of 60 million masks per year. A shift to three breaks could even increase production to 90 million masks per year. In response to a request from the federal government and together with the company Sioen (Ardooie, West Flanders), Deltrian will also have the task of producing 20 million filters that will be used to improve the quality of cloth masks that will be compulsory to wear on public transport from 4 May 2020. This is part of a desire to repatriate certain know-how to Wallonia and is an integral part of the Region's reindustrialisation strategy. "
Contact: http://www.deltrian.com/